Conveyance assisting apparatus, conveyance apparatus, and packaging sorting apparatus

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a conveyance assisting apparatus includes a placement portion, a base portion, a support portion, a moving device, and a projecting portion. The placement portion has a placement surface on which a package is placed. The base portion is fixed to a conveyance apparatus including a door portion to be opened/closed between a closed-position and an open-position. The support portion is on the base portion and supports the placement portion so that the placement portion is movable in a first-direction between a first-position where the placement portion covers the door portion and a second-position where the placement portion uncovers the door portion. The moving device is on the base portion and configured to move the placement portion. The projecting portion is on the placement surface and extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A conveyance assisting apparatus comprising:
 a placement portion having a placement surface on which a package is placed; 
 a base portion fixed to a conveyance apparatus including a door portion that is configured to be opened and closed between a closed position where the package is placed on the door portion and an open position where the package is dropped; 
 a support portion that is provided on the base portion and supports the placement portion so that the placement portion is movable in a first direction between a first position where the placement portion covers the door portion and a second position where the placement portion uncovers the door portion; 
 a moving device that is provided on the base portion and is configured to move the placement portion; and 
 a projecting portion that is provided on the placement surface and extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The conveyance assisting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the placement portion is configured to be deformable between a developed state in which the package is placed on the placement portion and a wound state, and 
 the moving device is a winding device that is configured to wind the placement portion from the developed state to the wound state. 
 
     
     
       3. A conveyance apparatus comprising,
 a conveyance apparatus main body including a first base portion and a door portion that is supported by the first base portion so as to be rotatable and that is configured to open and close between a closed position where a package is placed on the door portion and an open position where the package is dropped; and 
 a conveyance assisting apparatus including:
 a placement portion having a placement surface on which a package is placed, 
 a second base portion fixed to the conveyance apparatus main body, 
 a support portion that is provided on the second base portion and supports the placement portion so that the placement portion is movable in a first direction between a first position where the placement portion covers the door portion and a second position where the placement portion uncovers the door portion, 
 a moving device that is provided on the second base portion and is configured to move the placement portion, and 
 a projecting portion provided on the placement surface and extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction. 
 
 
     
     
       4. A package sorting apparatus comprising:
 a rail; 
 a first chute provided below the rail; 
 a second chute provided on a side of the rail; 
 a conveyance apparatus including a conveyance apparatus main body and a conveyance assisting apparatus,
 the conveyance apparatus main body including: 
 a first base portion movably supported by the rail and 
 a door portion that is rotatably supported by the first base portion and that is configured to be opened and closed between a closed position where a package is placed on the door portion and an open position where the package is fed into the first chute, 
 the conveyance assisting apparatus including: 
 a placement portion having a placement surface on which a package is placed, 
 a second base portion fixed to the conveyance apparatus main body, 
 a support portion that is provided on the second base portion and supports the placement portion so that the placement portion is movable in a first direction between a first position where the placement portion covers the door portion and a second position where the placement portion uncovers the door portion to feed the package into the second chute, 
 a moving device that is provided on the second base portion and is configured to move the placement portion, and 
 a projecting portion that is provided on the placement surface and extends in a second direction intersecting the first direction; 
 
 a first device that is provided along the rail and is configured to open the door portion at a timing when the conveyance apparatus passes through the first device; 
 a second device that is provided along the rail and is configured to operate the moving device at a timing when the conveyance apparatus passes through the second device; and 
 a control device that is configured to control the first device and the second device. 
 
     
     
       5. The package sorting apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the moving device includes a biasing portion that is configured to bias the placement portion from the first position toward the second position, 
 the placement portion includes an engaged portion and a guided portion, 
 the second base portion includes an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion when the placement portion is at the first position to hold the placement portion at the first position, and 
 the rail includes a guide rail that guides the placement portion from the second position to the first position by abutting on the guided portion as the conveyance apparatus moves.